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After this, if the nuptial benediction is to be given, a Mass is said, pro sponso et sponsa, as in the Roman Missal; every thing being observed which is there prescribed, viz.

After the Pater noster, the Priest, standing at the Epistle side of the Altar, and turning towards the Bride and Bridegroom, kneeling before the Altar, says over them the following prayers:

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fœdere nuptiarum: Deus, per quem mulier jungitur viro, et societas principaliter ordinata, ea benedictione donatur, quæ sola nec per originalis peccati pœnam, nec per diluvii est ablata sententiam; respice propitius super hanc famulam tuam, quæ maritali jungenda consortio, tua se expetit protectione muniri: sit in ea jugum dilectionis et pacis; fidelis et casta nubat in Christo, imitatrixque sanctarum permaneat feminarum: sit amabilis viro ut Rachel, sapiens ut Rebecca, longæva et fidelis ut Sarah; nihil in ea ex actibus suis ille auctor prævaricationis usurpet; nexa fidei mandatisque permaneat; uni thoro juncta, contactus illicitos fugiat; muniat infirmitatem suam robore disciplinæ; sit verecundia gravis, pudore venerabilis, doctrinis cœlestibus erudita; sit fœcunda in sobole, sit probata et innocens; et ad neatorum requiem, atque ad celestia regna perveniat: ut videant ambo filios filiorum usque in tertiam et quartam generationem, et ad optatam perveniant senectutem. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum.

ful to put asunder; O God, who hast consecrated the bond of matrimony by such an excellent mystery, that in the covenant of marriage thou wouldst signify the sacrament of Christ and his Church; O God, by whom woman is joined to man, and society, as ordained from the beginning, is furnished with a blessing, which alone was not removed, either in punishment of original sin, or by the sentence of the deluge: look mercifully upon this thy handmaid, who, being now to be joined in wedlock, earnestly desires to be fortified with thy protection: may it be to her a yoke of love and peace; may she marry in Christ, faithful and chaste, and remain a follower of holy women; may she be amiable to her husband like Rachel, wise like Rebecca, long-lived and faithful like Sara. In none of her deeds may that author of deceit have any power over her; may she abide firmly knit to the faith and the commandments; joined unto one bed, may she fly all unlawful approaches; may she fortify her weakness by the strength of discipline; may she be in shamefacedness grave, in modesty venerable, in heavenly doctrines learned; may she be fruitful in offspring, approved and innocent; and attain unto the rest of the blessed and unto the heavenly kingdom; that they both may see their children's children unto the third and fourth generation, and arrive at a desired old age. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Then the Priest, returning to the middle of the Altar, says: Libera nos, &c., as usual; and, after he has received the Blood, communicates the newly-married couple, and proceeds with the Mass: and having said the Benedicamus Domino, or Ite missa est, before he blesses the people, he turns to the Bride and Bridegroom, and says:

Deus Abraham, Deus Isaac, et Deus Jacob sit vobiscum, et ipse adimpleat benedictionem suam in vobis; ut videatis filios filiorum vestrorum, usque ad tertiam et quartam generationem; et postea vitam æternam habeatis sine fine, adjuvante Domino nostro Jesu Christo: qui cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivit et regnat Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and himself fulfil his blessing upon you; that you may see your children's children unto the third and fourth generation; and may afterwards have everlasting life, without end, by the help of our Lord Jesus Christ; who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

Then the Priest admonishes them to preserve fidelity towards each other; to observe continency at seasons of devotion, and particularly at the times of fasting and solemn festivals; to love one another, and to persevere, with one heart, in the fear of God. Then he sprinkles them with holy water, and, having said the Placeat tibi sancta Trinitas, &c., he gives the Benediction, and reads the last Gospel as usual.

A PRAYER

That may be daily said by a Woman in the state of
Pregnancy.

O Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, who hast made us all out of nothing, and redeemed us by the precious blood of thy only Son; look down upon thy poor handmaid here prostrate before thee, humbly imploring thy mercy, and begging thy blessing for herself and her child, which thou hast given her to conceive. Preserve, I beseech thee, the work of thy hands; and defend both me and the tender fruit of my womb from all perils and all evils. Grant me in due time a happy delivery, and bring my child safe to

PP

the font of baptism, that it may be there happily dedicated to thee, to love and serve thee faithfully for ever. But, O my

God, I have too much reason to fear, lest my great and manifold sins should hinder thee from hearing my prayers, and draw down thy judgments upon me and mine, instead of the mercies for which I pray and therefore I feel that the first thing I ought to do is, to repent from the bottom of my heart for all my offences, humbly confess them, and continually cry to thee for mercy. I detest, then, all my sins with my whole heart, and desire to lay them all here at thy feet, to be effaced and destroyed for ever. I renounce and abhor them with my whole soul, because they are infinitely odious to thee; and I wish that I could expiate them with tears of blood: I humbly beg thy pardon for them all, and I wish, with all my heart, that I had never committed them. I here offer myself to make what satisfaction I am able for them; and I most willingly accept of whatever I may have to endure in childbearing, and offer it up now beforehand to thee for my sins; firmly resolving, by thy grace, never wilfully to offend thee any more. Look upon my poor heart, O Lord, and if it be not according to my words, at least I desire it should be so I desire it should be that contrite and humble heart, which thou never despisest. In this disposition of soul, and with a lively confidence in thy mercies, and in the merits of the death and passion of Jesus Christ thy Son, I renew my most humble petition, and once more beg of thee, for myself, thy grace and protection, and a happy delivery; and for my child, that thou wouldest be pleased to preserve it for the grace of holy baptism, sanctify it for thyself, and make it thine for ever. Through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

he Benediction of a Woman after Childbirth.

When a Woman after Childbirth comes to the Church to give thanks to God, and to ask the Priest's Benediction, she kneels at the door or entry of the Church, holding a lighted candle in her hand; and the Priest, vested in a surplice and white stole, sprinkles her with holy water, and then says:

V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.

R. Qui fecit cœlum et ter

ram.

Ant. Hæc accipiet benedictionem a Domino, et misericordiam a Deo salutari suo; quia hæc est generatio quærentium Dominum.

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R. Who hath made heaven and earth.

Ant. She shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God her Saviour: for this is the generation of them that seek the Lord.

Then follows Psalm xxiii., with the Gloria, for which see
Office of the Blessed Virgin, p. 527.

The Antiphon Hæc accipiet is repeated.

Then, reaching the end of his stole to the woman's hand, the Priest introduces her into the Church, saying:

Ingredere in templum Dei, adora Filium beatæ Mariæ Virginis, qui tibi fœcunditatem tribuit prolis.

Enter into the temple of God, adore the Son of the blessed Virgin Mary, who giveth thee fruitfulness of offspring.

And she, entering in, kneels before the Altar, and prays, giving thanks to God for the benefits bestowed upon her; and the

Priest says:

Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.

Lord have mercy. Christ

have mercy. Lord have mercy.

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